CPA Excellent Partners

What CPA Excellent Partners does

CPA Excellent Partners (CPAエクセレントパートナーズ株式会社) is a privately held Tokyo-headquartered company founded in September 2001 that has built an integrated platform serving the full professional lifecycle of accounting and finance talent in Japan. The company operates three core pillars: learning support (CPA Accounting Academy, a Japanese CPA exam prep school with 66.7% share of all 2025 CPA exam passers across five campuses; CPA Learning, a free e-learning platform with 800,000+ registered users and 1,600+ video lectures including an AI-powered Q&A agent; and US-CPA and US-CMA certification courses), career support (CPASS Career placement agency and CPA Jobs job board, both operated through wholly-owned subsidiary CPA Career Support), and talent networking (CPASS community platform and CPASS Lounge physical venue). The company also runs the Next-CFO and CPA 2.0 executive development programs and an athlete employee program supporting elite athletes pursuing accounting qualifications alongside professional sports careers.

Revenue is generated primarily through paid tuition for CPA Accounting Academy's CPA exam preparation courses (the dominant revenue driver per the company), supplemented by placement and transaction fees from CPASS Career and CPA Jobs, advertising and sponsored content on CPA Learning, executive program fees (Next-CFO, CPA 2.0), and revenue contributed by acquired subsidiaries (Value Up Partner for CFO executive search, WITH International Japan for headhunting, WARC AGENT/SYNCA for management recruitment). Go-to-market combines a sales-led approach via physical campuses and direct employer outreach, a product-led free e-learning funnel (CPA Learning converts free users into paid students), and channel partnerships including J.League, B.LEAGUE, and university programs. The company has pursued an aggressive acquisition and international expansion strategy since 2025, establishing a Singapore regional headquarters in March 2026 and entering partnerships in India and other markets, while building out a full C-suite (CEO founder Kunimi Kensuke, CTO, CMO, CFO appointed 2025-2026) and a high-profile advisory bench that includes former PlayStation CTO Chatani Masayuki and former Indeed Japan CFO Hattori Taichi.

Name

CPA Excellent Partners

Legal name

CPAエクセlentパートナーズ株式会社

Website

https://cpa-excellent-partners.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CPA Excellent Partners is a Tokyo-based accounting and finance talent platform operating CPA exam prep schools (66.7% of all 2025 Japanese CPA passers), a free 800,000-user e-learning platform, and placement/job board services across Japan, Singapore, and India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Accounting Education & Career Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

akta.pro primary industry

Accounting & Finance Certification Prep (CPA, CMA, CFA, FRM) (EDANAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD), Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE) (EDAAALAA)

Keywords

• Accounting exam preparation
• Professional certification courses
• Accounting recruitment services
• Finance career support
• Bookkeeping education

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. CPA Accounting Academy (CPA会計学院): Revenue from comprehensive CPA (Japanese Certified Public Accountant) exam preparation courses. Students enroll in structured programs with lectures, textbooks, and tutor support. Revenue is generated through course fees charged to students. The school maintains campuses in Shinjuku, Suidobashi, Waseda, Yachiyo (Tokyo area), and Osaka Umeda, with reported pass rate dominance (66.7% of all CPA exam passers in 2025).
2. CPA Jobs (CPAジョブズ): Accounting-finance talent specialized job posting site. Revenue is generated through job listing fees from employers (initial free, unlimited duration, performance-based model). Companies pay upon successful hires. The platform targets both experienced professionals and entry-level accounting talent.
3. CPASS Career (CPASSキャリア): Career change and placement services specifically for accounting and finance professionals, including CFO-level placements through Value Up Partner. Revenue from placement fees charged to employer clients upon successful placement.
4. CPA Learning (CPAラーニング) - Upsell: Free platform used as a marketing funnel to convert free users into paying students for premium courses (CPA Accounting Academy, USCPA, US-CMA). Also generates revenue through advertising and sponsored content partnerships.
5. U.S.CPA and US-CMA Exam Prep Courses: International accounting certification preparation courses (US CPA and US CMA) offered as premium paid programs, contributing additional revenue streams from professionals seeking global accounting credentials.
6. Group Companies and M&A: Acquisition and integration of complementary companies (Value Up Partner, WITH International Japan, WARC AGENT/SYNCA businesses, SoVa investment) to expand service offerings and customer base across the accounting-finance talent lifecycle.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CPA Excellent Partners delivers accounting and finance professional education and career services in Japan. Its core offerings include CPA exam preparation courses (CPA Accounting Academy, U.S.CPA, US-CMA), a free e-learning platform (CPA Learning) covering bookkeeping through IFRS, and accounting-finance talent placement services through CPASS Career and CPA Jobs. The company operates physical campuses in Tokyo and Osaka alongside its digital platforms, and is expanding internationally via a Singapore subsidiary.

Product overview

CPA Excellent Partners operates a multi-brand platform ecosystem for accounting and finance professionals, centered on three pillars: learning support, career support, and talent networking. The core learning offerings include CPA Accounting Academy (CPA会計学院), providing Japanese CPA exam prep with a 66.7% pass rate dominance, alongside its U.S.CPA and newly launched US-CMA courses; and CPA Learning (CPAラーニング), a completely free e-learning platform offering 1,600+ video lectures on bookkeeping, accounting, tax, and Excel with an AI-powered Q&A agent. The career support pillar consists of CPASS Career (CPASSキャリア), a placement agency for senior accounting roles including CFO placements, and CPA Jobs (CPAジョブズ), an accounting-specialized job board. CPASS Lounge serves as the professional networking/social venue component. The group also operates athlete employee programs supporting elite athletes, executive development programs (Next-CFO, CPA 2.0), a publishing division, international expansion via a Singapore subsidiary, and sports league partnerships (J.LEAGUE, B.LEAGUE) providing accounting literacy education to professional athletes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CPA Accounting Academy (CPA会計学院) Premium Japanese CPA exam preparation school offering structured programs with professional-passed lecturers, importance-ranked textbooks, and 24/7 tutor support. Operates physical campuses in Shinjuku, Suidobashi, Waseda, Yachiyo, and Osaka Umeda. Targets aspiring CPAs preparing for Japan's most difficult accounting certification exam.
• CPA Learning (CPAラーニング) Completely free e-learning platform offering 1,600+ video lectures covering Japanese Commercial Bookkeeping Level 3 to Level 1, accounting, finance, tax, IFRS, and Excel skills. Includes an AI Agent for 24/7 instant Q&A on bookkeeping study. Accessible via web browser and mobile apps (iOS/Android). 800,000+ registered users as of October 2025.
• CPASS (CPA生涯支援プラットフォーム) Lifetime support platform for accounting and finance professionals integrating learning, career, and networking services. Includes CPASS Lounge physical networking spaces for accounting professionals. Covers the full career lifecycle from exam preparation through retirement.
• CPASS Career (CPASSキャリア) Accounting and finance talent-specialized career change support service (recruitment agency) providing placement for mid-to-senior level professionals, including CFO-level placements via subsidiary Value Up Partner. Targets accounting and finance professionals seeking career advancement.
• CPA Jobs (CPAジョブズ) Accounting talent-specialized job board covering accounting, finance, FP&A, tax, and management accounting roles. Features remote, flexible, and ¥5M+ salary positions for both experienced and entry-level candidates. Operated by CPA Career Support (100% subsidiary). Initial listings free with unlimited duration; performance-based model.
• U.S.CPA Course (CPA会計学院 USCPA講座) US Certified Public Accountant exam preparation course offered through CPA Accounting Academy. Includes international cooperation agreement with AICPA and partner organizations. Targets professionals seeking US accounting credentials.
• US-CMA Course (CPA会計学院 US-CMA講座) US Certified Management Accountant exam preparation course launched March 2026. Monitor program ran from late 2025 with student feedback incorporated into final course content. Targets professionals seeking US management accounting certification.
• CPA Learning AI Agent (簿記学習AI質問回答サービス) AI-powered Q&A service within CPA Learning that provides 24/7 instant answers to learner questions about bookkeeping, solving the long-standing challenge of real-time Q&A in online learning environments. Uses natural language processing to interpret free-text study questions and generate educational responses.
• CPA Athlete Employee Program (CPAエクセレントパートナーズ アスリート社員支援) Program employing elite athletes (including deaf swimmers and footballers) as company employees while they pursue competitive sports careers, supporting athletic performance alongside professional accounting-finance development. Athletes including Saito Kyoka, a Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics bronze medalist, are supported through this program.
• Next-CFO Program Executive education program for aspiring CFOs featuring guest lectures from active CEOs and CFOs at listed and venture companies. 12 sessions covering CFO mindset, thinking, and practical theory. CPD credits available.

Quantifiable outcome

• 66.7% pass rate dominance in Japan's CPA exam (2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Veranda Learning (India)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Veranda Learning signed an MoU with CPA Excellent Partners (Japan) to collaborate on talent development, recruitment, and career support for accounting and finance professionals across global markets. The partnership aims to create structured international career pathways through curriculum alignment, cross-border placement opportunities, and employer engagement. It supports bilateral India-Japan cooperation in skills development with access to job opportunities across Japan, Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East.
• Chatatani Masayuki (茶谷公之) - Individual AdvisorminorOthers · 1 June 2026Former PlayStation CTO/EVP, Sony technology strategist, Rakuten AI Executive Officer, KPMG Digital Development CEO, and McKinsey & Company Build by McKinsey Japan Head. Appointed as advisor to provide AI strategy expertise and digital transformation guidance to CPA's management team.
• Meikai University (明海大学)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 May 2026CPA's AI Project Leader Soga Kenjiro delivered a special lecture at Meikai University's Urayasu Campus on 'How will generative AI change society and the world?' as part of the university's Digital Innovation course. This academic partnership supports digital talent development and positions CPA as an industry leader in AI education.
• BLUEOCTOPUS EDUTECH PVT LTDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026CPA Excellent Partners Singapore Pte. Ltd. entered a capital partnership with BLUEOCTOPUS EDUTECH, which operates global accounting qualification school 'BOARD360'. This partnership enables CPA to participate in the global accounting education market through its Singapore entity, marking the company's first international business expansion.
• Sunil Deshmukh (スニル・デシュムク) - Individual AdvisorminorOthers · 19 March 2026Appointed as advisor in March 2026 along with the establishment of CPA's Singapore entity to provide international business expertise and support global expansion efforts.
• WARC Co., Ltd. (株式会社WARC) - WARC AGENT and SYNCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026CPA's subsidiary CPA Career Support acquired WARC's WARC AGENT recruitment business and SYNCA management-department platform through an absorption-type company split. WARC AGENT is a direct recruiting service for management positions, while SYNCA is a platform with over 900 client companies. This acquisition expands CPA Career Support's network and service offerings in the management professional recruitment space.
• Hatatori Taichi (服部太一) - Individual AdvisorminorOthers · 27 February 2026Former NTT, Recruit Holdings executive, Indeed Japan CFO, and SHIFT executive director/CFO. Appointed as advisor to provide expertise in corporate governance, internal controls, and CFO-level management to support CPA's business expansion and governance enhancement.
• Iwasaki Kyoko (岩崎恭子) - Individual AdvisorminorOthers · 1 February 2026Former competitive swimmer who won gold at 1992 World Championships at age 14, silver at 1996 Olympics. After retiring, studied swimming instruction in the US. Appointed as advisor to support athlete career development programs and inspire others through her example of post-athletic success.
• WITH International Japan Co., Ltd. (WITH international Japan株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026CPA acquired WITH International Japan, a search-type recruitment firm serving startups to large corporations including foreign companies. WITH specializes in high-difficulty positions with limited candidate pools and cross-border recruitment. The acquisition combines CPA's accounting-finance talent cultivation with WITH's search capabilities to provide more comprehensive career support with potential for global expansion.
• Handott Ryuji (播戸竜二) - Individual AdvisorminorOthers · 1 January 2026Former Japan national soccer team player, Gamba Osaka, Cerezo Osaka, FC Ryukyu, and FC Gifu player. Served as J.League special director and JFA athlete committee member. Appointed as advisor to strengthen athlete career support programs and communicate the importance of accounting-finance education to the sports community.
• International University of Akita (公立大学法人国際教養大学)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2025CPA Accounting Academy lecturer Yamamoto Kentaro conducted a study session titled 'Career and Challenge with Accounting Professional as the Axis' for students at International University of Akita. The collaboration introduced students to CPA exam preparation and career paths in accounting, with an invitation for students to visit the CPA Shinjuku campus.
• Value Up Partner Co., Ltd. (バリューアップパートナー株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025CPA acquired Value Up Partner to strengthen its CFO-level placement services. Value Up Partner specializes in executive recruitment for control management positions (CFO, finance directors) and has deep expertise in understanding CFO roles and career paths. The acquisition creates synergies between CPA's talent cultivation and Value Up Partner's executive placement network, advancing CPA's vision of becoming an accounting-finance talent infrastructure company.
• B.LEAGUE (公益社団法人ジャパン・プロフェッショナル・バスケットボール联赛)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2025CPA was appointed as B.LEAGUE's career management project partner in August 2025. The partnership supports basketball players and staff in developing accounting-finance skills and business acumen. The initiative helps players understand club financial structures, prepare for post-retirement careers, and develop business literacy. It supports B.LEAGUE's broader vision of '感動立国' (Moving the Nation Through Emotion) by building business-capable sports professionals.
• NPO Kids Door (認定特定非営利活動法人キッズドア)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2025CPA supports Kids Door's 'Bookkeeping Level 3 Acquisition & Employment Challenge Program' which provides free bookkeeping education to underprivileged families. CPA provides its free CPA Learning platform and curriculum to support participants in obtaining bookkeeping certifications and transitioning to employment, aligning with CPA's social impact mission.
• GENDA Inc. (株式会社GENDA)minorOthers · 25 April 2025CPA's representative director Kunimi Kensuke serves as an independent auditor (社外監査役) for GENDA Inc., an entertainment company operating game centers and other leisure businesses. This represents a personal board position rather than a company-level partnership.
• Hoshi Naoto (星直人) - Financial Strategy AdvisorminorOthers · 25 April 2025Former Morgan Stanley investment banker, Unicorn Co. CFO, current listed company financial strategy advisor and Impact Startup Association representative director. Appointed as financial strategy advisor to enhance CPA's financial strategy capabilities and support sustainable growth.
• J.League (公益社団法人 日本プロサッカーリーグ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2025CPA entered a supporting company contract with J.League in April 2025. The partnership aims to provide accounting-finance literacy education to league staff, club employees, and players. It seeks to strengthen club management foundations and promote career development for soccer professionals. The three objectives include: (1) providing accounting-finance learning opportunities to league/club staff and players, (2) promoting accounting-finance talent development in soccer to strengthen club management, and (3) co-creating educational content on sports business and accounting-finance to attract talent to the sports-finance sector.
• Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN (トピアテ！留学JAPAN)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2024CPA provides donation support to the Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN initiative, which supports Japanese university and high school students' overseas study programs. This partnership aligns with CPA's mission of expanding human potential and contributed to CPA receiving the 紺綬褒章 (Order of the Sacred Treasure) from the Japanese government in September 2025 for its social contribution activities.
• GLOBIS Corporation (株式会社グロービス)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 December 2023CPA Learning entered a content partnership with GLOBIS's subscription video learning service 'GLOBIS 学び放題'. CPA provides 10 course categories including bookkeeping, tax, IFRS, and Excel skills through the GLOBIS platform, extending CPA Learning's reach to GLOBIS's user base.
• SoVa Co., Ltd. (株式会社SoVa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2023CPA invested in SoVa, a technology-enabled accounting firm combining accounting expertise with digital tools. The investment enables CPA to provide practical accounting work experience opportunities to its trained talent, extending beyond learning and career support to include hands-on practical experience within the accounting-finance talent lifecycle.
• ClearSON Shinjuku (クリアソン新宿)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CPA partnered with ClearSON Shinjuku, a JFL soccer club aiming for J.League promotion. The partnership supports the club's vision of becoming 'the world's best soccer club' by providing accounting education to players and staff. Notable programs include supporting players Sakamoto Shuyu (studying for CPA) and Ishii Keita (studying for USCPA) while active in the club. CPA and the club co-host events and share staff at matches.
• 3x3 Professional Basketball Team TOKYO DIMEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCPA entered a partnership with TOKYO DIME, a 3x3 professional basketball team, to support athlete development and expand its sports partnership portfolio beyond football and traditional basketball into the growing 3x3 basketball format.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• O-Hara (資格の大原): Long-established Japanese accounting and tax qualification school offering CPA, bookkeeping, and tax accountant exam prep via classroom and online channels. A direct competitor to CPA Excellent Partners in the Japanese CPA prep market.
• KIYO Learning (スタディング / Studying): Japan-listed online exam prep company (TSE Growth) offering low-priced subscription-based CPA, bookkeeping, and tax exam prep. Closest direct competitor in the online e-learning segment, challenging CPA Learning's freemium model.
• Net School (ネットスクール株式会社): Specialized Japanese online provider of bookkeeping and accounting exam prep courses. Overlaps with CPA Learning's bookkeeping (Level 1-3) content and competes for self-study accounting candidates.
• TAC Co., Ltd. (TAC株式会社): One of Japan's largest professional qualification exam prep schools, with established CPA, USCPA, CMA, CFE, and bookkeeping courses across multiple campuses. Directly competes with CPA Excellent Partners' CPA Accounting Academy for the same Japanese CPA candidate pool.
• LEC Tokyo Legal Mind (LEC東京リーガルマインド): Major Japanese exam prep provider covering accounting (CPA, bookkeeping), legal, and business qualifications. Operates both classroom and online programs, competing head-to-head with CPA Excellent Partners in the CPA exam prep market.
• CLEAR (クレアール株式会社): Online-focused Japanese accounting exam prep school offering CPA, bookkeeping, and tax courses. Competes with CPA Excellent Partners' online/distance learning offerings for budget-conscious CPA candidates.
• MS-Japan Co., Ltd. Japan-listed specialized recruiting firm and job board focused on accounting, tax, legal, and finance professionals. Directly competes with CPA Jobs (job board) and CPASS Career (placement) in the accounting-finance talent marketplace.
• JAC Recruitment Co., Ltd. Major Japanese executive recruitment firm with strong mid-to-senior finance and accounting desk. Competes with CPASS Career and Value Up Partner for senior accounting/finance and CFO-level placements.

Emerging players

• Becker Professional Education: Global leader in US CPA, CMA, and CFA exam prep with growing Asia presence. Becomes a direct peer as CPA Excellent Partners expands internationally (Singapore, India) and adds US-CMA / USCPA courses to its portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Indeed Japan (Indeed): Largest generalist job board in Japan with growing accounting and finance vertical. Competes with CPA Jobs as a free listing destination for employer job postings, particularly in junior-to-mid accounting roles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cpa__learning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CPA Excellent Partners